Mike Basham goes 4-for-5, Westfall finishes 2-for-3 with three RBI
Feb. 7, 2003
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The University of Utah baseball team dropped the first game of a three-game series 8-5 to Mesa State College in its season opener in Grand Junction, Colo., this afternoon. The Utes fall to 0-1 on the season, while Mesa State improves to 1-4.
"Committing three errors in the second inning cost us four runs," Head Coach Tim Esmay said. "That ended up being the ball game."
The Mavericks took the lead early and never looked back, jumping out to a 6-0 lead after scoring four runs in the second inning.
Down 8-0, Utah scored its first runs in the top of the sixth when junior Jared Pena doubled, driving in DH Brandon Biesinger and catcher Wick Udy. After a single and stolen base by senior Mike Basham, junior Mike Westfall singled to center field, bringing in Pena and Basham.
The Utes scored again in the eighth inning when, after Jake Jordison doubled, Westfall tripled for his third RBI of the day.
Utah's comeback fell short in the ninth. With two outs, Basham singled, but transfer Cort Wilson struck out looking for the third and final out to end the game.
Basham went 4-for-5 with four singles, while Westfall was 2-for-4 with three RBI. "Both Mikes (Basham and Westfall) had great games at the plate," Esmay said.
Junior Sean Overholt took the loss on the mound, pitching five innings and giving up all eight runs on nine hits while striking out two. Sophomore Dan Simonsen pitched three innings of relief, allowing no runs and one hit with one strikeout.
|
|
 |
The series resumes at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 8, and wraps up on Sunday, Feb. 9 at noon.
